Although I'm a bit late with this post, I've been really wanting to share my favourites from the past year - whether they makeup, skincare or haircare related. I probably could've narrowed this list down more, but I'm sure most of you are pretty curious to see what I've been loving, so here they are...
Skincare:
The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make Up Remover (£8):
It's not hard to see from this list that I have fallen hard for The Body Shop Camomile line this year. I have never used such an effective eye makeup remover - it's not harsh, it doesn't sting in the slightest, and it doesn't leave behind a nasty oily residue like so many do. I've nearly finished my second bottle of this stuff, and I won't be hesitating to purchase my third.
The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (£10) and Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (£12):
This range from the Body Shop has literally become my favourite line of all time. Both the oil and butter are fantastic at removing every last bit of makeup with such ease, plus it's really great for my sensitive skin.
Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask (£4.66):
I used to turn to Origins for my clay mask needs, but despite the fact that this Botanics one is about the fifth of the price, I also find it a lot kinder on my sensitive skin. This still does the job of cleaning out my skin when it's spot prone, but it doesn't leave me bright red and tight-skinned.
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner (£25):
If you saw my 'a bumpy situation' post then you'll know that this has helped to even out my skin texture in a big way this year. It's definitely become my favourite chemical exfoliator.
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm (£9.50):
People don't lie when they say that this is the best lip balm out there - it truly works wonders. I also like that it's matte which means that it's less sticky.
Origins High Potency Night-a-Mins Moisturiser (£34.50):
I've talked about this miracle product several times; namely
here and
here, but in a nutshell it's the perfect night cream as it moisturises and helps to resurface your skin whilst you sleep. Absolute perfection.
Beauty:
YSL Touche Éclat Wild Edition (£25):
I honestly wasn't convinced by this at first - it didn't seem pale enough, and just didn't really float my boat. Skip forward a few months and it finally clicked. Despite me being much paler since moving back from Madrid, it seems to suit me better (?) and I love it for finishing touches under my eyes and down the centre of my nose.
This is my go-to everyday foundation. It's super light and wearable and can be applied really lightly or built up to provide slightly more coverage. Weirdly enough, I also really love the smell of it!
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (£31):
Sheer Glow is my favourite foundation when I need a tad more coverage - it's perfect for those 'bleugh' days. It is also one of my favourites because NARS is one of the only brands that make face products light enough for my skin tone, so this fits me perfectly - which is a rarity.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (£22):
I really doubt that I need to talk about this concealer anymore than I already have, but it's just amazing. As the name suggests, it's incredibly creamy and blend-able, and the coverage is great for covering up any problem areas.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light (£38):
Although this has a pretty hefty price tag, it sets the skin perfectly without looking 'powdery'. As you can probably see, I have very nearly hit pan on this, and although I don't think I'll be rushing out to spend another £40 on it straight away, I will definitely get around to buying it again in the future because it really does work well on my skin.
This has been my go-to brow product for years. I've spoken about my past problem with getting a good, ashy coloured match for my blonde brows, and this is my favourite by far. The colour, the texture, the application - they are all just perfect for me.
This nifty little thing is perfect for casual days where you want your brows to look super natural but also quite lush and without any 'bald' patches. It's also great because the gel texture of it makes it last all day long, and the super tiny wand is great for application (unlike others - Maybelline Brow Drama I'm looking at you...)
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush ($26):
These are really hard to get your hands on in the UK, but I'm so glad that I paid the extra buck to get one. This is a gorgeous 'I've-been-outside-in-the-winter-wind' shade and it has amazing pigmentation. I'd love to get my hands on a few more shades, but I don't know when that'll be!
Bourjois Colour Edition 24 Hr Eyeshadow in Petal de Glace (£6.99):
Although the texture of this can be a tad frustrating to work with, the colour is simply stunning. For much of the year this has been my go-to, slap-it-on eyeshadow colour and I've loved every moment of it. You can see it in action
here!
Maybelline ColourSensational Shine Gloss (£6.19):
I am not a gloss girl - never have been. However, these bad boys have really changed my mind. They are non-sticky, long-lasting and stunning on. There's a shade to suit everyone, so if you were a gloss-phobic like me, try one of these out and see what you think!
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks (£8.99):
I've spoken about my love for these here, but for those who don't already know, these are truly fantastic. They honestly last all day - seriously I wore a red shade on Christmas Day and I had to scrub the remains off gone midnight when I finally hit the hay. A must have for me.
YSL Rouge Volupté 31 Fuchsia Tourbillon (£25):
I actually bought this in Hong Kong back in 2013 but I wasn't really brave enough to give it a good go until 2014. The colour is stunning, the formula is moisturising and it smells amazing. It's a tad on the pricey side, but the product and the packaging (oh my!) are both excellent.
Haircare:
Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Spray (£3.59):
This is the best leave-in conditioner that I've come across in a long time. My hair needs all of the moisturising and detangling help that it can get, and this really does the trick. For some reason, this is almost impossible to find in store at the moment, so I just order it off of the Boots website into my local store.
So now I've shared mine, it's time to share yours!
What have been your favourite products of the past year? Let me know in the comments!
P.S. Sorry if there are any spelling/grammar mistakes - I'm writing this at 2am the night before you're reading this as a break from reading for one of my essays. I'll fix any mistakes later!
